Social Sciences and HumanitiesResearch Council of Canada

Conseil de recherches ensciences humaines du Canada

SSHRC’s Program Architecture

Éric Bastien, Assistant DirectorStrategic Programs and Joint InitiativesOctober 21, 2010

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Purpose of SSHRC Program Architecture Renewal

By renewing SSHRC’s program architecture we will deliver:

− greater overall program coherence− a simpler interface between applicants and

SSHRC− improved service for applicants

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Structure

Three programs:− Talent − Insight − Connection

Two funding streams:− Individual researchers and informal groups

or teams − Formal partnerships

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Individuals & Teams

Partnerships

Talent Insight ConnectionProgram

Mechanism

Partnership Development Grants

Partnership Grants

SSHRC Doctoral Awards

SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowships

(CGS, Vanier and Foreign Study Stipend)

Research Development Grants

Research Grants

Workshops & Conferences

Scholarly Journals

Outreach and Tools

(in future)

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Research Development Initiatives

Strategic research development grants (several)

International Opportunities Fund: Development Grants

Standard Research Grants

Strategic research grants (several)

Research Development Grants

Research Grants

Community-University Research Alliances

Major Collaborative Research Initiatives

Strategic Knowledge Clusters

Knowledge Impact in Society

Aspects of International Opportunities Fund

Partnership Grants

Partnership Development

Grants&

Public Outreach: Dissemination Grants

Tools aspects of Standard Research Grants

Image, Text, Sound and Technology: Summer Institutes

Workshops and Conferences

Outreach and Tools

INSIG

HT

CURRENT PROGRAMS RENEWED PROGRAM ARCHITECTURECO

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ECTION

INSIG

HT &

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ECTION

Aid to Scholarly Workshops & Conferences

International Opportunities Fund: Workshops & Conferences

Public Outreach: Workshops & Conferences Grants

Aspects of Image, Text, Sound and Technology

Fellowships and scholarships No changes at this time

TALENT

No changes at this timeAid to Scholarly Journals

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Talent

− The objectives of the Talent program are to:

– support the development of the best or most promising highly qualified personnel with SSH research and professional skills;

– support the best or most promising SSH students and postdoctoral fellows selected through an adjudication process;

– support students and scholars in gaining exposure to international SSH scholarship; and

– mobilize SSH knowledge that has the potential to lead to intellectual, cultural, social and economic influence, benefit and impact.

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Insight

− The objectives of the Insight program are to:

– build knowledge and understanding from disciplinary, interdisciplinary and/or cross-sector perspectives through support for the best researchers;

– support new approaches to research on complex and important topics, including those that transcend the capacity of any one scholar, institution or discipline;

– provide a high-quality research training experience for students;

– fund research expertise that relates to societal challenges and opportunities; and

– mobilize research knowledge, to and from academic and non-academic audiences, with the potential to lead to intellectual, cultural, social and economic influence, benefit and impact.

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Connections

− The objectives of the Connection program are to:

– facilitate the multidirectional flow of SSH knowledge among researchers and between the campus and the larger community, in order to enhance intellectual, cultural, social and economic influence, benefit, and impact;

– increase the accessibility and use of SSH research knowledge among academic and non-academic audiences;

– support the building of reciprocal relationships among SSH, and between SSH researchers and those in a position to either co-create or use research knowledge;

– support the development of SSH research networks and tools designed to facilitate scholarly work; and

– make such networks and tools more accessible to non-academic audiences.

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Evaluation Criteria Across Funding Opportunities

− Challenge: The aim and importance of the endeavour

− Feasibility: The plan to achieve excellence

− Capability: The expertise to succeed

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Results of Program Architecture Feedback

− Committee structure for the Insight program– The Research Grants funding opportunity will be reviewed, and a

new structure announced in spring 2011.

− Assessment criteria: – The weighting of “capability” will be adjusted to between 30 and 40

per cent for all funding opportunities.

− Level of mandatory contributions in Partnership Grants for Insight and Connection programs:

– This will be reduced to 35 per cent in cash and/or in-kind contributions over and above the total amount of funding requested from SSHRC.

− Proposed maximum grant sizes: – For some funding opportunities these sizes will be decreased.

− Deadlines for applications– These will be adjusted to better meet the needs of applicants and

institutions.

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Proposed Timeline for Implementation

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Thank you / Merci

Email: partnershipgrants@sshrc-crsh.gc.caTel.: 613-943-1007